BNP Paribas Showdown

The BNP Paribas Showdown (formerly NetJets Showdown, Billie Jean King Cup) was an annual one-night exhibition tennis event operated by GF Sports and held at Madison Square Garden in New York City in February or March from 2008 through 2017.

BNP Paribas Showdown
Tournament information
LocationManhattan, New York
United States
VenueMadison Square Garden (2008–2017)
CategoryExhibition
SurfaceHard Indoor
Draw4–8 players
WebsiteOfficial website

The Showdown was part of World Tennis Day, an initiative to increase tennis participation around the world. The event served as the kick-off to the tennis season in North America, with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) running thousands of clinics across the country throughout the spring. The event's format changed from year-to-year, including male and female players (current and retired) playing singles and doubles.

Some of the greatest players of all-time participated in the BNP Paribas Showdown, including Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Pete Sampras, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Bob & Mike Bryan.

The final Showdown on March 6, 2017, included Venus Williams, Garbiñe Muguruza, Juan Martín del Potro, Kei Nishikori, Jack Sock, Nick Kyrgios, Andy Roddick, & Lleyton Hewitt in a team format. Team World defeated Team Americas 29–24.[1] Following the 2017 edition of the event, BNP Paribas withdrew its sponsorship and an alternate backer could not be found, so Tie Break Tens took its place at the Madison Square Garden.[2]

Event history

The event was launched in 2008 as the NetJets Showdown, and it represented a return of tennis to Madison Square Garden after almost a decade-long hiatus.[3] A sold-out crowd watched Roger Federer and Pete Sampras—two of the most prominent players at the time—face-off. Federer defeated Sampras in a classic, 6–3, 6–7(4), 7-6(6).

2009 marked the inaugural year of the Billie Jean King Cup, and the first time that women's tennis had been played at Madison Square Garden since 2000, when the year-ending Chase Championships were held. The event featured Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Janković. Serena Williams won her semifinal match against Ana Ivanovic 6–3, and Venus Williams won hers 6–4 against Jelena Janković. The final was won by Serena 6–4, 6–3.[4] The Billie Jean King Cup returned in 2010 and was won by Venus Williams.

In 2011, the event was renamed the BNP Paribas Showdown; it was a celebration of American tennis legends and two of the greatest rivalries in the sport's history: Ivan Lendl vs. John McEnroe, and Pete Sampras vs. Andre Agassi. Between 2011 and 2016, several other Grand Slam champions and former World No. 1's played at the Garden.

In 2013, the Showdown was expanded and also held in Hong Kong for the first time.[5]

In 2014, the Showdown expanded from New York and Hong Kong to a third location: London.[6]

The 2017 edition was played on 6 March 2017 and introduced a new "Fast Format" for the 4 matches,[7] with the event's first-ever team format in the style of mixed doubles. Team World, captained by Lleyton Hewitt, defeated Team Americas, captained by Andy Roddick 29–24.[8]

Tennis Night in America (TNIA)

In 2009, the USTA launched Tennis Night in America (TNIA) as one of its top national marketing programs designed to increase grassroots tennis participation. The initiative promoted a "National Junior Tennis Registration Night" at over 700 locations on March 2, which coincided with both the 2009 Showdown at Madison Square Garden and the start of that year's professional tennis season in North America.

Connecting grassroots tennis with professional tennis, TNIA was able to deliver the 2009 Showdown via closed circuit television to tennis clubs throughout the country, allowing one night in March to bring together tennis players of all ages and abilities, as they pay tribute to the game that they love so much.[9]

World Tennis Day

In 2014, following the success of the 2013 BNP Paribas Showdown in both New York and Hong Kong, StarGames launched World Tennis Day as part of an effort to increase global tennis participation.[10] World Tennis Day is highlighted by international grassroots initiatives and culminates with the BNP Paribas Showdown.

List of winners

New York
Year Champion Runner-up Score
2017Team WorldTeam Americas29–24
2016France Gaël MonfilsSwitzerland Stan Wawrinka7–6(6), 6–3
United States Serena WilliamsDenmark Caroline Wozniacki7–5, 6–4
2015Argentina Gabriela SabatiniUnited States Monica Seles8–5
Bulgaria Grigor DimitrovSwitzerland Roger Federer6–2, 1–6, 7–5
2014United States Bob Bryan & Mike BryanUnited States John McEnroe & Patrick McEnroe8–3
Serbia Novak DjokovicUnited Kingdom Andy Murray6–3, 7–6(2)
2013United States Serena WilliamsBelarus Victoria Azarenka6–4, 6–3
Argentina Juan Martín del PotroSpain Rafael Nadal7–6(4), 6–4
2012Russia Maria SharapovaDenmark Caroline Wozniacki6–3, 6–4
United States Andy RoddickSwitzerland Roger Federer7–5, 7–6(7)
2011United States Ivan LendlUnited States John McEnroe3–6, ret.
United States Pete SamprasUnited States Andre Agassi6–3, 7–5
2010United States Venus WilliamsBelgium Kim Clijsters6–4, 3–6, 7–5
2009United States Serena WilliamsUnited States Venus Williams6–4, 6–3
2008Switzerland Roger FedererUnited States Pete Sampras6–3, 6–7(4), 7–6(6)

Hong Kong
Year Champion Runner-up Score
2014Australia Sam StosurChina Li Na6–4, 6–3
Australia Lleyton HewittCzech Republic Tomáš Berdych6–4, 7–5
2013Poland Agnieszka RadwańskaDenmark Caroline Wozniacki6–4, 6–4
United States John McEnroeUnited States Ivan Lendl8–5

London
Year Champion Runner-up Score
2014Australia Pat CashUnited States Ivan Lendl8–6
United States Andre AgassiUnited States Pete Sampras6–3, 7–6(1)

References
  1. "Web Page Under Construction".
  2. "BNP Paribas' pullout results in a shutdown of the Showdown".
  3. "Web Page Under Construction".
  4. Serena Williams wins the BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup
  5. "Web Page Under Construction".
  6. "Web Page Under Construction".
  7. "BNP Paribas Showdown 10th Anniversary Field Announced". World Tennis Day. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  8. "Web Page Under Construction".
  9. Tennis Night in America Press Release - Business Wire
  10. "Web Page Under Construction".
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